What can I send my Dad on a Covid ward?

[Usernamqwerty]

Posting for traffic...

My Dad was admitted to hospital yesterday, very unwell with Covid. Was originally diagnosed with flu, then possible pneumonia, but was finally diagnosed positive with Covid yesterday :( He's being well looked after but he's a 3 hour drive away (although I can't go and visit at the moment due to the Covid).

Anyway... I want to send him a package (PALS have said this is fine) and was wondering if anyone has any experiences of having family members in hospital and what they valued having?

Am thinking new underwear, shorts, t-shirts and socks. Maybe a newspaper (he doesn't like books), snacks and tissues?

Feeling pretty stressed at the moment. I've been his carer for 20 years and trying to cope with him, looking after two small children and I'm on an intensive healthcare professional training course :(

Thanks for reading! x

I got my mum a kindle fire when she was in hospital and loaded it with films for her.

I would check with the ward before sending the shorts etc.

When MIL was on a Covid ward they didn't want people to send her nighties etc as they become a problem when they need to be washed. They preferred people to wear hospital gowns.

poor you that sounds horribly stressful.

You know your dad best of course but I doubt he'll be wanting or needing much right now. A daily newspaper might be nice - does the hospital have a newsagent who could arrange one for you? Otherwise can you arrange for him to have access to one of the hospital tv units - i think you can subscribe by the day or week?

I would find out a bit more about his treatment and condition before you send anything tbh. He's likely to be feeling really rough and exhausted and probably not in the mood for eating. Does he usually use a phone or tablet for keeping in touch with people? If so, having that plus his charger would be handy.

If you want to do clothes I’d go for soft pyjamas to be honest. Soft tissues a nice plan, also Vaseline or lip balm of some kind.

If the hospital has bedside tv thingies which are pay per day then maybe a card to pay for them (might need to talk to someone on the ward to sort that though). Newspaper or newsy magazine a good plan, maybe a not too taxing puzzle book, word search type thing?

Snacks also a good plan and maybe a bottle of squash or cordial as the hospital stuff can be a bit grim.

But also if you’ve been his career for 20 years then I’m sure you’re more than aware of this, but just in case, make sure the ward staff know his current baseline. If there are specific things he will need support with make sure they know what those are. And also make sure they know his abilities. If he doesn’t have dementia make sure no one has assumed he does, and that any confusion he is experiencing is new. That sort of thing. If he does have dementia then you should be allowed onto the ward too even if there is usually no visiting.

Hope it’s a short stay and he makes a good improvement.

You may find they prefer to use hospital issue pjs and keep personal items to a minimum. Consumables if he can eat/drink, some family pictures, toiletries, light reading . Has anyone seen him who can advise how much energy and concentration span he has?

I think that sounds nice

Squash and earplugs / headphones are my essential hospital recommendations

The things you’ve suggested. Also, if he’s well enough to watch, maybe buy him an hospital TV card, help to while away the time and take his mind off things?

Some nice instant hot drinks & a mug, my mum was in hospital during the summer & the one thing she wanted was a hot drink in a proper mug & not the coloured water they serve in hospital.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I had a chat with one of his doctors earlier and let them know about his history etc x

Hand cream/lip balm
Deodorant
Facial wipes so he can freshen up
Grapes..corny but so nice in a hot stuffy ward
Cans of fizzy drinks/tea bags
Device with videos
If he’s upright crocs are a godsend in toilets/showers
Pictures of home/family and some sellotape

The OP is 3 hours away. I doubt if they would allow visitors on a covid ward unless patient were dying and even then only for 20 minutes.

Our hospital purchased some mobiles and ipads so you could speak to a patient if elderly and didn’t have a phone with them. You could also email photo’s which PALs were laminating and giving to patients so they could see you.

I think I would speak to nursing staff ask how he is doing, send a couple of photo messages with PALS if they are doing this and ask Nursing staff if they think your dad is up to a phone or video call and could they arrange this.

Photo messages sound lovely. Thanks so much for your suggestions! X

Bed bath wipes. We discovered these when my dad was in hospital. Now he has a few packs in his hospital bag. Oasis are a great make. They are like big thick wipes to clean yourself with. No rinse needed.